Wawel Folk Ensemble

Wawel will hold a Bowling Fundraiser on July 31, 2009 at the Regal Lanes in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Cost is $20.00 and includes: 3 games, shoe rental, pizza and pop. Check in time is at 7 pm with bowling beginning at 8 pm.

For additional information, please contact 586-758-6083.

Summer 1998, maybe you were sitting back and listening to Next’s Too Close, or listening Brandy and Monica fight it out in The Boy is Mine, but in the summer of 1998, members of the Wawel Folk Ensemble were most likely listening to polkas as the traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to participate in Polish Fest, the largest Polish Festival in the United States.

Fast forward to June 19, 2009 and members of the Wawel Folk Ensemble were listening to polkas again as the traveled to Milwaukee for Polish Fest. The 2009 edition of Polish Fest, marked Wawel’s tenth appearance at the event (Wawel did not perform at Polish Fest in 1999 or 2005 because of its participation in the triennial Folklor Festival in Rzeszów, Poland).

Members of the Ensemble arrived in Wisconsin on Friday June 19, 2009 to walk the festival grounds, check out the vendor’s wares, hear national and internationally renowned bands and to check out the performance venues for the Saturday performances.

On Saturday June 20, 2009, Wawel participated in a program on Polish Fest’s Cultural Stage with the Lajkonik Polish Folk Ensemble from Chicago, Illinois. The two ensembles are quite familiar with one another as they were in the same group during workshops held at the 2007 Polish Folk Dance Association of the Americas (“PFDAA”) held in Chicago, Illinois. During the performance with Lajkonik, Wawel debuted its brand new Sieradz suite and also presented its Podlasie suite – also a newer addition to the Ensemble’s repertoire.

Later on Saturday evening, Wawel participated in a gala concert of Polish dance featuring PFDAA member groups from throughout the Midwest, including other groups from Detroit, Chicago and Milwaukee. Wawel presented its Sieradz and Podlasie suites during the PFDAA gala. The 2009 gala was extra special for members of the Wawel Folk Ensemble because the group’s director, Tom Skurski, is currently serving as the president of the PFDAA. In his capacity as president, Mr. Skurski acted as the master of ceremonies and narrator for the gala concert.

As is Wawel’s tradition since 1998, on Sunday morning members of the Ensemble attended the Polish Fest mass attired in Polish folk dress. After mass there was time for a group photo, and a quick pass through the festival grounds. Members of the Ensemble then headed toward their cars for the long trip home – happy with the weekend’s results and looking forward to the next set of performances during the summer.
Wawel’s next public performance is July 12, at the American Polish Century Club’s Polish Festival held in Sterling Heights, Michigan. On July 31, 2009, the Ensemble will host a bowling fundraiser at Regal Lanes located in Sterling Heights, Michigan.